Since the Scotsman is now on a waiting list to have his gallbladder removed, Peter Wright plans to refrain from eating butter-coated crumpets before defending his World Matchplay title.
The 2021 champion and No. 1 in the world starts the defence of his title at the Winter Gardens on Saturday against Latvian rookie Madars Razma, although he has been having health issues lately.
Wright is waiting to have his gallbladder removed and is concerned since, in his opinion, the only thing stopping him from winning the Phil Taylor Trophy in Blackpool would be a flare-up of his gallstones.
“It could flare up at any moment, I am just trying not to eat crumpets caked in butter,” he said.
“I’m just waiting on a date to go in for an op, they will ring up when they’ve got space with a surgeon.
“The docs want to take my gallbladder out with keyhole surgery. It will probably be around three months’ time.
“I’ve just said not during the Matchplay or when I’m in Australia and New Zealand for the World Series. I’ve given them some dates but if it comes down to missing a tournament, I’ll have to accept it.”
Wright claimed the World Championship at the start of the year, but he acknowledges that his form has been “awful” ever since and has been impacted by a variety of outside issues, notably his poor health.
“At the UK Open I felt like I was going to win that tournament, I felt great,” he said.
“I was playing Joe Cullen and I went into the practice area about three hours before my match and I didn’t get up to throw a dart.
“Three hours before my match against Joe Cullen, I walked into the practice room, but I didn’t get up to throw a dart.
“I was going to cancel, but I didn’t throw a dart until fifteen minutes before I was scheduled to take the stage. I was in pain and prepared to quit. It’s not pleasant, but it has happened before during the Players Championship when I went for approximately a week without sleeping.
“Obviously my form has been terrible this year. I’ve had other stuff on my mind, we’ve had family stuff to deal with.
“All that is sort of settled so we know what we are doing now. My head is in a good space and that’s all that counts. I believe I can go and do it again, only better this time.
“The other players will have to go back on the practice board if they want to win this one. I’m going to go and win it again.
“I’ve been to the final and I’ve won it. I know what it takes to win it. My head’s right and if your head’s right, it’s difficult to stop someone if they’re feeling confident.”
Wright is back in a bullish frame of mind heading to Blackpool after posting eight tonne or more averages over four days of the ProTour competition in Barnsley last week.
The 52-year-old added, “You cannot top being at Blackpool,” finishing the competition with a stunning 104.91 average.
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